The Cordish Companies announced the appointment of gaming industry veteran John J. Chaszar as executive vice president and general manager of the new Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, a $270+ million world-class gaming, dining, hotel, and entertainment destination set to open in Bossier City in the first quarter of 2025. In his new role, Mr. Chaszar will manage the development, grand opening, and day-to-day operations of the first land-based casino property in the Shreveport-Bossier market.

With over three decades of gaming and resort operations experience, Mr. Chaszar has held leadership positions with several notable entertainment and hotel companies across the country in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, and South Carolina.

He most recently served as senior vice president and general manager of Tropicana Casino in Evansville, Indiana, which had also transitioned from a floating to a land-based casino under his leadership. Mr. Chaszar’s experience with that transformation will be invaluable as the new land-based gaming facility takes shape at Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana.

During his career, he spent more than a decade with Penn Entertainment as vice president and general manager at several of its properties including Hollywood Casino in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Hollywood Casino Resort in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Mr. Chaszar also spent over 13 years with Quorum Hotels & Resorts in leadership positions across eight different locations.

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“As The Cordish Companies continues to expand, we are focused on building a team that can deliver the high standards of quality and excellence that have become synonymous with the Live! brand nationwide. We are confident that under John’s leadership, the new Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will become a premier destination offering first-class hospitality and entertainment, exceptional customer service, and generating millions of dollars in economic benefits for the Bossier City community for years to come,” Rob Norton, President of Cordish Gaming Group, said.

When opened, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana will offer a first-class gaming and entertainment experience featuring more than 47,000-square-feet of gaming space, including 1000+ slots and electronic table games and 40+ live action table games; a sportsbook; an upscale 550-room hotel, resort pool and fitness center; a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, multi-purpose Event Center for top name entertainment, meeting, conventions, and social gatherings; 30,000-square-feet of best-in-class dining entertainment venues including multiple new food and beverage outlets featuring nationally acclaimed concepts Sports & Social and PBR Cowboy Bar; and more.

The project is expected to generate $35 million in gaming tax revenues for the City of Bossier and more than $168 million in gaming tax revenues for the State of Louisiana within the first five years of operation. Annually it will generate $34 million in salaries, wages and tips, create approximately 750 new construction jobs and approximately 750 permanent gaming and hospitality jobs for local and regional residents.